Education is an important part in helping people enjoy self-esteem, self-confidence, success and good health and wellbeing. Individuals who perform well at school and achieve qualifications are more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours and to find employment. They are also less likely to engage in risk taking behaviours.
Families, rather than schools, tend to have the most important influence on educational attainment.
Educational attainment is important for children and young people to maximise capabilities and have control over their lives. However there is also a need to ensure physical, social and emotional wellbeing is promoted and developed, both in schools, families and communities, with opportunities for lifelong learning and skills development.
For further information
Marmot Review, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, February 2010;
The impact of health and health behaviours on educational outcomes in high-income countries: a review of the evidence, WHO, 2011;
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